Multi-player game

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are provided herein for playing a multi-player game. Players select words related to a seed word and place or write the selected words in spaces on a game board. In some embodiments, the related words are synonyms, while in other embodiments they are one of antonyms, homophones, or homonyms. Each of the words, when placed in the spaces on the game board, shares at least one letter with a word previously placed on the game board. A score is determined for each player in the multi-player game by summing a point value assigned to each letter in each word placed by the player on the game board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates generally to multi-player games, and more particularly to multi-player games involving the selection and placement of related words on a game board by players.

Previous multi-player games have involved players placing game pieces on a game board to form words thereon. However, these previous games have not required the player to choose a word for placement on the game board that is related to another word provided to the player. Instead, the players are able to pick words of their own choosing for placement on the game board and are not required to select a word that is related to another word provided to the player. Accordingly, players often quickly tire of such games and do not find them to be particularly challenging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a system for playing a game between a plurality of players is provided. A game board comprises a playing surface marked with a grid pattern of spaces sized and shaped to accommodate a written representation of a character or a game piece. At least one die having a plurality of surfaces is provided, each of the plurality of surfaces having a unique identifier displayed thereon. A plurality of cards is also provided, each of the cards having a predefined number of seed words printed thereon and each of the words on a single card assigned to a different one of the unique identifiers.

In another aspect, a method of playing a game between a plurality of players is provided. The method comprises providing a game board comprising a playing surface marked with a grid pattern of spaces sized and shaped to accommodate a written representation of a character; rolling, by a first player, a die having a plurality of surfaces, each of the plurality of surfaces having a different number of indicia displayed thereon; selecting, by the first player, a single card from a plurality of cards, each of the plurality of cards having a plurality of seed words displayed thereon, each of the seed words on one of the plurality of cards associated with the different numbers of indicia displayed on the plurality of surfaces of the die; writing, by the first player, letters of a first word in adjoining spaces in the grid pattern on the game board playing surface, the first word being a synonym of a first seed word on the selected card corresponding to the number of indicia shown on an upward-facing surface of the rolled die; repeating the previous two steps for a second player; and writing, by the second player, at least one letter of a second word in adjoining spaces in the playing surface, the second word being a synonym of a second seed word on the card selected by the second player corresponding to the number of indicia shown on an upward-facing surface of the die rolled by the second player, the second word comprising at least one letter in the first word written by the first player in one of the spaces on the playing surface.

In another aspect, a method of playing a game between a plurality of players using at least one computing device is provided. The method comprises outputting a first seed word to at least a first player; receiving, from the first player, a synonym of the first seed word and a location for placement of the synonym of the first seed word on a representation of a playing surface having a plurality of spaces each sized for placement of at least one letter therein; outputting a second seed word to at least a second player; and receiving, from the second player, a synonym of the second seed word and a location for placement of the synonym of the second seed word on the representation of the playing surface, wherein the location of at least one letter in the synonym of the second seed word has the same location as at least one letter in the synonym of the first seed word.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is top plan view of an exemplary game board for use in playing a multi-player game described herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary die for use in playing the multi-player game described herein;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of two exemplary game pieces for use in playing the multi-player game described herein according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a card for use in playing the multi-player game described herein;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the exemplary game board with a plurality of words placed thereon;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram depicting a method of playing the multi-player game described herein; and

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting another method of playing the multi-player game described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments described herein are directed to a multi-player game involving the placement of related words on a game board. In one embodiment, a system is provided for playing the game including a game board, a die, and a plurality of cards each containing a number of words displayed thereon. A method of playing the game in an exemplary embodiment generally includes players determining synonyms from a supplied word and then placing the synonym on the game board such that at least one letter of the synonym uses at least one letter from another, previously placed synonym on the game board. In other embodiments, the players select other words related to the supplied word (e.g., antonyms, homonyms, or homophones) rather than synonyms. Accordingly, while reference is made herein to the selection of synonyms during play of the multi-player game, such reference is not to be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary game board 100 for use in playing the multi-player game described herein. Game board 100 is constructed from any suitable material, and in the exemplary embodiment is constructed from a glossy material from which marks made thereon by a marker may be easily erased or otherwise non-permanent. Game board 100 may be formed from a chalkboard-like material in other embodiments.

Game board 100 shown in FIG. 1 is generally square in shape with a plurality of square-shaped spaces 102, only two of which are numbered for the sake of clarity. Spaces 102 are suitably sized such that at least one character can be written in each of spaces 102 or such that at least one game piece 120, 122 (described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 3) can be placed therein. In embodiments using game pieces 120, 122, spaces 102 may be defined by raised lines sized slightly larger than game pieces 120, 122 in order to constrain movement of game pieces 120, 122.

Game board 100, as shown in FIG. 1, thus has a grid-like pattern measuring ten spaces 102 in the vertical direction by ten spaces 102 in the horizontal direction. In other embodiments, game board 100 and spaces 102 may be differently arranged. For example, game board 100 may have a greater number of spaces 102 in one direction than another such that game board 100 is rectangular, rather than square. Moreover, game board 100 may be circular, oval, oblong, or any other shape. Spaces 102 may also be differently shaped without departing from the scope of the described embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary die 110 for use in playing the multi-player game described herein. Die 110 has a plurality of faces 112, each of which has indicia 114 (broadly, “unique identifiers”) displayed thereon. In the exemplary embodiment, indicia 114 are dots and each face 112 of die 110 has a different number of dots displayed thereon. Each face 112 of die 110 has from one to six indicia 114 in the exemplary embodiment, representing the numerals one to six. In other embodiments, indicia 114 may be actual numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.) or other graphical symbols.

Face 112 of die 110 having indicia 114 of a single dot is an upward-facing surface or face 112 of die 110. When die 110 is rolled by a player, the player can be said to have “rolled” whatever indicia 114 are displayed on the upward-facing surface of die 110. For example, a player having rolled die 110 such that its upward-facing surface has one dot (as shown in FIG. 2) can be said to have rolled a “1”. In other embodiments, die 110 is not used and instead any other suitable device is used to randomly generate or display indicia in a predefined range corresponding to the number of seed words 132 on card 130 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of two exemplary game pieces 120, 122 for use in playing one embodiment of the multi-player game described herein. Each of game pieces 120, 122 has a different character displayed thereon. While only two game pieces 120, 122 are shown in FIG. 3, at least one separate game piece is provided for each character in the alphabet. In embodiments using game pieces 120, 122, multiple game pieces for each character of the alphabet may be provided.

An exemplary card 130 having a plurality of seed words 132 is shown in FIG. 4. Each of seed words 132 corresponds with one of indicia 114 displayed on faces 112 of die 110. Accordingly, in embodiments having different number of indicia 114, a corresponding different number of seeds words 132 are provided on card 130. In the exemplary embodiment, a plurality of cards 130 is provided and at least some of seed words 132 are different on each of the plurality of cards 130. Any suitable number of cards 130, such as fifty (50) cards 130, can be included or provided with the multi-player game system described herein.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of game board 100 with a plurality of words 104, 106, 108 placed thereon. Words 104, 106, 108 may either be written in spaces 102 of game board 100 by a marker (not shown) or other writing implement or game pieces such as shown in FIG. 3 may be placed in spaces 102 of game board 100 to form words 104, 106, 108.

Each of words 104, 106, 108 contains a plurality of unshared letters 107 that are only used to form the particular word 104, 106, 108. Each of words 104, 106, 108 also contains at least one shared character 109 that is used to form another word 104, 106, 108. In the exemplary embodiment, the character ‘A’ is a shared character 109 that is used in the formation of words 104 and 106, while the character ‘I’ is also a shared character 109 that is used in the formation of words 106 and 108.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method 600 of playing the multi-player game described herein. In one embodiment, method 600 begins with providing 610 of a game board 100. Any suitable method may be used to determine the order in which the players will play the game. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the players rolls die 110, and the player who after rolling die 110 has the lowest number of indicia 114 showing on the upward-facing surface of die 110 is the first player. The player with the second lowest number of indicia 114 is the second player, and so on. In the event that two or more players have the same number of indicia 114 showing on the upward-facing surface of die 110, the players may roll die 110 again until each of the players has a different number of indicia 114 showing on the upward-facing surface of die 110. In other embodiments, any suitable method may be used to determine the order of the players.

A first player then rolls 620 die 110. As described above, after rolling die 110, indicia 114 will be displayed on the upward-facing surface of die 110. The first player then selects 630 card 130 from a plurality of cards. As described above, card 130 has a plurality of seed words 132 printed thereon. In the exemplary embodiment, the first player is prevented from viewing seed words 132 before selecting card 130 (e.g., cards 130 may be face-down when selected by first player). The first player first selects one of seed words 132 displayed on selected card 130 that corresponds to indicia 114 displayed on the upward-facing surface of die 110 when die 110 was rolled 620. The first player then writes 640 a synonym of seed word 132 on game board 100, with each letter in the synonym occupying a single space 102 on game board 100. Alternatively, the first player places appropriate game pieces 120, 122 in successive spaces 102 to form the synonym of seed word 132.

After the player writes the synonym of seed word 132 on game board 100, another player (i.e., a “challenging player”) may challenge either the spelling of the synonym and/or whether the synonym is actually a correct synonym of seed word 132. In such a scenario a dictionary or thesaurus (broadly, “reference source”) is consulted to determine whether the synonym is correctly spelled and/or is a correct synonym of seed word 132. In the event that the synonym is correctly spelled or a proper synonym of seed word 132, a first point value (e.g., between one and twenty points) is deducted from the challenging player's score and/or a second point value (e.g., between one and twenty points) is added to the score of the player whom placed the synonym on game board 100. However, in the event that the synonym is incorrectly spelled or is not a proper synonym of seed word 132, the first point value is added to the challenging player's score and/or the second point value is deducted from the score of player who placed the synonym on game board 100. In the exemplary embodiment, the synonym is not removed from game board 100 if it is determined to be improperly spelled or not a proper synonym of seed word 132. In other embodiments, this is not the case and the synonym may be removed from game board 100. Synonyms can only be challenged immediately following their placement on game board 100 (i.e., before an additional synonym is placed on game board 100) in the exemplary embodiment, although in other embodiments this is not the case.

A determination 650 is then made as to whether all of the players have played in this round. If all of the players have played in this round, a score for each player is then determined 660. In other embodiments, the determination 660 of each player's score does not occur until play of the multi-player game has ended. The score for each player is determined 660 by summing the point value of each letter used in each word placed on game board 100 by a player. The point value for letters previously placed on game board 100, such as shared character 109 in FIG. 5, may or may not be included in the score for a player. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the letters has the same point value (e.g., one point), while in other embodiments the point value may differ for at least some of the letters. For example, letters that are less commonly used in the English language (e.g., q, x, etc.) may have a relatively higher point value than letters that are more commonly used (e.g., a, e, t, etc.). Moreover, some letters have a negative point value in at least one embodiment.

After the determination 660 of each player's score, method 600 may then start again with first player rolling 620 die 110. However, if all the players have not played in this round, the next player rolls 620 the die 110 and method 600 continues as described above, with one exception. All subsequent synonyms written on game board 100 must use at least one letter previously placed on game board 100 to form another synonym, such as words 104 and 108 in FIG. 5. These subsequently written synonyms may also use letters from multiple synonyms previously written on game board 100, such as word 106 in FIG. 5. Method 600 continues until all of the players are not able to place a word on game board 100 during a single round. At such time, method 600 ends and play of the multi-player game ceases.

While reference is made herein to physical components for use in playing the multi-player game between two or more players, in other embodiments players may use one or more computing devices to play the multi-player game. In these embodiments, the graphical representations are presented to the players by output devices (e.g., a display monitor or an audio output device) of the computing device(s) showing one or more of the components (i.e., game board 100, card 130, die 110, etc.) for use in playing the multi-player game. Rather than writing words 104, 106, 108 on game board 100 or placing game pieces 120, 122 thereon, input is received from the players (e.g., via a keyboard, audio input device, or any other suitable input device) which describes where to write or place letters on a graphical representation of game board 100. In one embodiment, the players may each have separate computing devices that are communicatively coupled over a network (e.g., a local area network or the internet) while in another embodiment each player may have a computing device coupled to a central output device that is used by all or some of the players.

Such an embodiment is shown in the flow diagram of FIG. 7 which depicts another method 700 of playing the multi-player game described herein. In one embodiment, method 700 may be used with one or more computing devices. For example, each player in method 700 may use a respective computing device, each of which is communicatively coupled together by a network or other communication system. Alternatively, method 700 may be conducted by multiple players using a single computing device. In still other embodiments, method 700 may be conducted by a single player while the “other player(s)” are simulated by the computing device.

Method 700 begins with outputting 710, by at least one of the computing devices, a first word (e.g., one of seed words 132) to a first player. A synonym of the first word is then received 720 from the first player. A location for placement of the synonym of the first word on a representation of a playing surface (e.g., game board 100) is also received 720 with the synonym of the first word.

Method 700 then continues with output 730, by at least one of the computing devices, of a second word (e.g., one of seed words 132) to a second player. A synonym of the second word is then received 740 from the second player. A location for placement of the synonym of the second word on a representation of the playing surface is also received 740 with the synonym of the second word. The location received 740 from the second player for placement of the synonym results in at least one letter in the synonym of the second word having the same location on the representation of the playing surface as at least one letter in the synonym of the first word.

Method 700 continues on in a similar manner for additional player(s) (if there are any) such that a word is output to the additional player(s) and then a synonym is received from the additional player(s). A location of the synonym is also received from the additional player(s) such that at least one letter of the synonym has the same location on the playing surface as at least one letter of another synonym previously placed on the playing surface.

After the additional player(s) have played in the round, the score for each player may be calculated as described above with reference to FIG. 6. Alternatively, a score may be calculated after each synonym is placed on the representation of the playing surface or a score may be calculated when play is stopped at the end of the game, as described below.

Method 700 begins again with outputting 710 a word to first player after completion of the first round. Method 700 continues in such a manner as described above until all of the players are unable to place a synonym on the representation of the playing surface during a single round. When this occurs, the game is over, and play is stopped.

While reference is made herein to the placement of synonyms on game board 100, in other embodiments other words related to seed words 132 may instead or in addition be selected by players and placed on game board 100. For example, antonyms, homophones, and/or homonyms may be selected by the players instead of or in addition to synonyms in methods 600 and 700 described above. Moreover, in some embodiments players select synonyms in one round of play in the multi-player game and then select a different related word (e.g., antonyms, homophones, or homonyms) in another, subsequent, round. In still other embodiments, one player may be assigned to select one type of related word (e.g., synonyms) while another player is assigned to select a different type of related word (e.g., antonyms) during the course of play in the multi-player game.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for playing a game between a plurality of players, said system comprising: a game board comprising a playing surface marked with a grid pattern of spaces sized and shaped to accommodate a written representation of a character or a game piece; at least one die having a plurality of surfaces, each of the plurality of surfaces having a unique identifier displayed thereon; and a plurality of cards, each of the cards having a predefined number of seed words printed thereon, each of the words on a single card assigned to a different one of the unique identifiers.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the unique identifiers are indicia representative of numerals.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the unique identifiers are graphical symbols.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the game board has a surface configured such that marks made thereon by a writing element are non-permanent.
 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of game pieces having a single letter of the alphabet displayed thereon.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the game pieces are sized and shaped such that a single game piece is positionable within a single space in the grid pattern on the playing surface.
 7. A method of playing a game between a plurality of players, said method comprising: (a) providing a game board comprising a playing surface marked with a grid pattern of spaces sized and shaped to accommodate a written representation of a character; (b) rolling, by a first player, a die having a plurality of surfaces, each of the plurality of surfaces having a different number of indicia displayed thereon; (c) selecting, by the first player, a single card from a plurality of cards, each of the plurality of cards having a plurality of seed words displayed thereon, each of the seed words on one of the plurality of cards associated with the different numbers of indicia displayed on the plurality of surfaces of the die; (d) writing, by the first player, letters of a first word in adjoining spaces in the grid pattern on the game board playing surface, the first word being a synonym of a first seed word on the selected card corresponding to the number of indicia shown on an upward-facing surface of the rolled die; (e) repeating steps (b) and (c) for a second player; and (f) writing, by the second player, at least one letter of a second word in adjoining spaces in the playing surface, the second word being a synonym of a second seed word on the card selected by the second player corresponding to the number of indicia shown on an upward-facing surface of the die rolled by the second player, the second word comprising at least one letter in the first word written by the first player in one of the spaces on the playing surface.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) for a third player.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising writing, by the third player, at least one letter of a third word in adjoining spaces on the playing surface, the third word being a synonym of a third seed word on the card selected by the third player corresponding to the number of indicia shown on an upward-facing surface of the die rolled by the third player, the third word comprising at least one letter in either the first word or the second word in one of the spaces on the playing surface.
 10. The method of claim 7 further comprising rolling the die by each of the players prior to step (b) to determine which of the plurality of the players is the first player.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining which of the plurality of players is the first player by comparing the number of indicia shown on the upward-facing surface of the die after each player rolls the die and assigning one of the plurality of players, who had the lowest number of indicia shown on the upward-facing surface of the die after rolling the die, to be the first player.
 12. The method of claim 7 further comprising repeating steps (b) through (f) until both the first player and the second player are not able to place a word that is a synonym of a respective seed word on the card selected by the player corresponding to the number of indicia shown on an upward-facing surface of the die rolled by the respective player that uses at least one letter in a word previously written in one of the spaces in the grid pattern on the playing surface of the game board.
 13. The method of claim 7 further comprising determining a score for each of the players by adding a point value of each letter used in words written by each respective player on the game board playing surface.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the point value of at least one letter is different than the point value of another letter.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the point value of each letter is one point.
 16. The method of claim 13 further comprising challenging, by consulting a reference source, at least one of the spelling of a word written by another player on the playing surface or whether the word written by another player is a proper synonym and the respective word on the other player's selected card corresponding to the numeral shown on an upward-facing surface of the die rolled by the other player.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising; at least one of deducting a first predetermined number of points from a challenging player's score when the challenged word was correctly spelled and adding a second predetermined number of points to the score of the player who wrote the challenged word; and at least one of adding the first predetermined number of points to a challenging player's score when the challenged word was incorrectly spelled and deducting the second predetermined number of points to the score of the player who wrote the challenged word.
 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising; at least one of deducting a first predetermined number of points from a challenging player's score when the challenged word was a proper synonym and adding a second predetermined number of points to the score of the player who wrote the challenged word; and at least one of adding the first predetermined number of points to a challenging player's score when the challenged word was not a proper synonym and deducting the second predetermined number to the score of the player who wrote the challenged word.
 19. A method of playing a game between a plurality of players using at least one computing device, said method comprising: (a) outputting a first seed word to at least a first player; (b) receiving, from the first player, a synonym of the first seed word and a location for placement of the synonym of the first seed word on a representation of a playing surface having a plurality of spaces each sized for placement of at least one letter therein; (c) outputting a second seed word to at least a second player; and (d) receiving, from the second player, a synonym of the second seed word and a location for placement of the synonym of the second seed word on the representation of the playing surface, wherein the location of at least one letter in the synonym of the second seed word has the same location as at least one letter in the synonym of the first seed word.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising repeating steps (a) through (d) until both the first player and the second player are not able to place a word that is a synonym of the respective seed word output to the user on the representation of the playing surface such that the synonym uses at least one letter in a synonym previously placed on the playing surface by one of the players. 